The appeal of hemp jewelry has always been a little lost on us. That is, until we saw some of the work of Phat Hemp jewelry designer Tiffany Garden. Her handmade hemp jewelry pieces for men and women are not exactly the hemp jewelry you grew up wearing in high school. Combining Czech glass and gemstones with this naturally eco-friendly fiber, her pieces have us looking at hemp in a new light.

Tell us a little about yourself and your work. My name is Tiffany Garden, I live in York, PA, and I want to turn my house into a gigantic bead storage container. Since I can't do that, I feed my bead addiction by making hemp jewelry with all sorts of beads -- one of a kind lampwork, unique fiber beads, way out there Czech glass, rare gemstones -- if it's shiny, it's going to find a way into my work one way or another. Although many people see hemp as something that is more teen or young adult in nature, I do try to push a design sensibility towards universal pieces. After all, hemp is about as eco-friendly as you can get, so it's a material that should be able to be enjoyed by people of all ages.

How did you get started as a designer? My high school teacher ended up showing me the ropes with hemp jewelry. I spent a few years making it during high school and college, but then after a series of moves lost touch with my creative side. I came across Etsy on accident and ended up finding that spark again -- so five months later I'm crafting away, buried under a pile of hemp and beads, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

What inspires your work? Many times the idea for a piece is spurred by unique beads; other times it might be an odd color combination that I've seen in nature. I love organic designs and colors most of all -- it seems to be one of those things that are just perfect for hemp.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers? It's a lot of hard work, but most things that are worthwhile are rather difficult at first. Just keep at it and show the world your unique creative vision.

Who are your favorite designers? In my own field, I'd have to say Missy at HempJewelryShop.com. She was the very first hemp jewelry maker that I saw online, and that was years and years ago. She's still here, going strong, and with some very awesome designs. For jewelry makers in general, I'd say Lissa Harlin. She does things with wire that just wow me, and watching her go crazy at a bead show is hours of entertainment by itself.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? I've found myself more and more attracted to natural tones: browns are a giant part of my wardrobe these days, especially combined with sky blue, and I've also found myself looking more and more at deep reds and blacks.

Where can people find your work? Right now I sell exclusively online at selenia.etsy.com


We love all of the amazing independent designers out there and we wanted to find out more about what makes these creative types tick. If you do too, check out more of our Indie Designer Interviews.